Galloway, NJ – In a back-and-forth matchup throughout the entirety of play, the Montclair State University women's basketball team (15-11) came up a bit short as they were outdueled at Stockton 67-60 on Saturday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Defense was tight in the beginning stages of the opening quarter. SHANNON HUGHES created a steal early, but was unable to score on the opposite end of the floor. Stockton scored the first bucket of the game at the 7:44 mark, but was answered quickly on a pull-up jumper by BELLA BRUCE. The Ospreys converted two free throws and scored two lay ups to take a two-possession lead. Bruce countered back with two buckets to tie the game at the 4:25 timestamp. The two teams traded blows down the stretch. SHANNON HUGHES buried a three to end scoring in the third quarter with 42 seconds remaining, but the Red Hawks fell behind 17-14 after the opening frame.
• Bruce continued to be the hot hand, opening the second with a bucket. Stockton responded with a three-pointer, but Montclair countered on makes from ALYSSA CRAIGWELL and SAMANTHA PHILIPP to tie the game at 20-20. Both teams traded six-unanswered with five on Montclair's coming from Craigwell. After both teams traded pull-up jumpers, a pair of driving layups by the Ospreys ended the half with them holding a 32-28 advantage.
• Craigwell and Bruce pushed the Red Hawks out in front with four points apiece to take a 36-32 lead. Stockton was able to tie the game back up with two second-chance buckets. A good layup regained the lead for Stockton, but Craigwell scored on the next possession at the 4:38 timestamp. The two teams traded blows on ensuing possessions with the Ospreys holding a 41-40 advantage. A scoring draught lasted from the 4:18 to the 1:50 mark on a MADISON MARCOTTE made free throw. Two made layups from Stockton was countered by two made threes from SHANNON HUGHES, including one at the buzzer to give the Red Hawks a 47-45 edge going into the final quarter.
• The Ospreys once again found second chance points and used a turnover to regain the lead in the first minute and a half of the fourth quarter. Marcotte found Craigwell in the paint to once again put the game back at a draw. Both teams continued to fight back-and-forth. CELINA BUSSANICH hit a three at the 4:30 mark to tie the game at 55 apiece. Stockton scored on the next possession, but was answered by another Bussanich three and a fast-break layup by ALEXIS STROLLO to give Montclair a 60-57 lead. While it looked as if the Red Hawks were going to swing the momentum, they went cold down the stretch from the floor and Stockton seized that opportunity to score 10 unanswered points, including hitting a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the crucial moments to seize the 67-60

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Bruce finished with a game high of 18 points and collected six rebounds, two steals, and two assists.
• Craigwell recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the game. She caps of the season with an average of 16.5 points per game.
• Stockton took advantage under the basket today, scoring 52 of its 67 points inside the paint.

FROM THE COURT

Quote to be added.  

UP NEXT

Montclair finished the season with a 15-11 overall record and finished 11-7 in the NJAC.